Newcastle Interchange, New South Wales, Australia
Aurecon designs a new multi-modal transport interchange for the city of Newcastle that provides a seamless link to the Newcastle Light Rail.
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The 2.7 km alignment connects Newcastle Interchange with Newcastle Beach, and is the first in Australasia to be "catenary-free" – without the overhead wires that many light rail systems employ for traction power along the entire route.
Aurecon with joint venture partner WSP, and urban design and architectural sub-consultants Cox and Context, were supported by Transport for New South Wales and Downer EDI to deliver the light rail system, which forms a key part of the NSW Government’s Revitalising Newcastle program.
This includes:
The team drew upon a pragmatic risk management approach and embraced extensive community consultation to manage the project's significant disruption on the regional city. As a result, major construction shutdowns were managed through a relatively short period, and the project was delivered on time and to budget.
Aurecon was responsible for delivering comprehensive design, engineering and management services, including:
The Newcastle Light Rail system utilises a catenary-free operation, where each light rail vehicle houses an onboard energy storage system. A super capacitor and batteries on the roof of the vehicle enables it to travel wire free. Charging is completed through the vehicle’s pantograph making contact with an elevated charge bar at each of the passenger stops.
The wireless operation declutters the urban environment and actively aligns with the NSW Government’s vision for the city.
Each light rail vehicle can transport the equivalent of four full buses of passengers, with the system having the capacity to carry 1,200 people per hour. The network follows the old rail corridor for approximately one-third of the route, before moving onto Hunter and Scott streets in the Newcastle CBD.
The six stops allow residents and visitors to more easily access Newcastle Beach, public spaces and city precincts linked to the harbour, encouraging greater economic growth and urban renewal.
The opening of a wire-free and sustainable public transport option in Newcastle lays the foundation for an expanded light rail network in the Hunter region, and for a continued renaissance of light rail in Australia.
Newcastle Light Rail is the first light rail project in Australasia to achieve an ‘Excellent’ IS rating for both Design and As Built from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia.
The project has won the following awards:
Aurecon designs a new multi-modal transport interchange for the city of Newcastle that provides a seamless link to the Newcastle Light Rail.
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